Apparatus having hybrid monochrome and color image sensor array

Abstract

There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.

I claim: 
     
       1. An optical reader comprising:
 a first image sensor array, the first image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of first pixels; 
 a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the optical reader to:
 capture one or more color frames of image data; 
 capture one or more decode frames of image data; 
 decode one or more decodable indicia in the one or more a frames of image data; and 
 associate the one or more color frames of image data with the one or more decode frames of image data by;
 identifying a parcel identifier; 
 storing the parcel identifier in association with the one or more color frames of image data as a single transaction data set; and 
 transmitting the single transaction data set to a remote server. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The optical reader of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second image sensor array, the second image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of second pixels; and 
 a second imaging lens associated with the second image sensor array, 
 wherein the second image sensor array is configured to capture the one or more color frames of image data, and 
 wherein the first image sensor array is configured to capture the one or more decode frames of image data. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the first image sensor array is a two-dimensional global shutter CMOS image sensor array comprising the plurality of first pixels disposed in a plurality of rows, wherein all or substantially all of the plurality of first pixels are configured to be simultaneously exposed for a duration of an exposure period, and wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprise one or more two-dimensional bar codes. 
     
     
       4. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the parcel identifier comprises decoding the parcel identifier from the one or more decodable indicia. 
     
     
       5. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the remote server comprises a database of other color frames of image data associated with a plurality of other parcel identifiers. 
     
     
       6. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more decode frames of image data define a reduced area relative to the one or more color frames of image data. 
     
     
       7. The optical reader of  claim 6 , further comprising an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is configured to project an aiming pattern that aligns with a location corresponding to the reduced area of the one or more decode frames of image data. 
     
     
       8. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further configure the optical reader to:
 in response to decoding the one or more decodable indicia in the one or more decode frames of image data and identifying the parcel identifier, automatically transferring the parcel identifier to a remote server. 
 
     
     
       9. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more color frames of image data comprise a plurality of color frames of image data, and wherein the optical reader is configured to compare two or more of the plurality of color frames of image data to detect differences in the parcel between the two or more of the plurality of color frames of image data. 
     
     
       10. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further configure the optical reader to receive a single command input via a user interface of the optical reader, wherein the single command input is configured to cause the optical reader to capture the one or more color frames of image data, capture the one or more decode frames of image data, decode the one or more decodable indicia, and associate the one or more color frames of image data with the one or more decode frames of image data, including transmitting the single transaction data set to the remote server. 
     
     
       11. The optical reader of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further configure the optical reader to receive a plurality of trigger signals comprising at least a first trigger signal in response to a first user input configured to capture the one or more color frames of image data and at least a second trigger signal in response to a second user input configured to capture the one or more decode frames of image data. 
     
     
       12. An optical reader comprising:
 a color display comprising a touch screen, wherein the color display defines a plane of the color display, wherein the color display further comprises a graphical user interface with virtual selectable buttons; 
 a radio frequency communication interface, wherein the radio frequency communication interface is operable to communicate via at least one of Bluetooth, 802.11, and GSM/GPRS; 
 a first image sensor array, the first image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of first pixels; 
 a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; 
 a processor that implements a multitasking operation system; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the optical reader to:
 capture one or more color frames of image data; 
 capture one or more decode frames of image data; 
 decode one or more decodable indicia in the one or more decode frames of image data; and 
 associate the one or more color frames of image data with the one or more decode frames of image data by:
 identifying a parcel identifier; 
 storing the parcel identifier in association with the one or more color frames of image data as a single transaction data set; and 
 transmitting the single transaction data set to a remote server. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The optical reader of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second image sensor array, the second image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of second pixels; and 
 a second imaging lens associated with the second image sensor array, 
 wherein the second image sensor array is configured to capture the one or more color frames of image data, and 
 wherein the first image sensor array is configured to capture the one or more decode frames of image data. 
 
     
     
       14. The optical reader of  claim 12 , wherein the first image sensor array is a two-dimensional global shutter CMOS image sensor array comprising the plurality of first pixels disposed in a plurality of rows, wherein all or substantially all of the plurality of first pixels are configured to be simultaneously exposed for a duration of an exposure period, and wherein the one or more decodable indicia comprise one or more two-dimensional bar codes. 
     
     
       15. The optical reader of  claim 12 , wherein identifying the parcel identifier comprises decoding the parcel identifier from the one or more decodable indicia. 
     
     
       16. The optical reader of  claim 12 , wherein the remote server comprises a database of other color frames of image data associated with a plurality of other parcel identifiers. 
     
     
       17. The optical reader of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more decode frames of image data define a reduced area relative to the one or more color frames of image data. 
     
     
       18. The optical reader of  claim 17 , further comprising an aiming illumination light source, wherein the aiming illumination light source is configured to project an aiming pattern that aligns with a location corresponding to the reduced area of the one or more decode frames of image data. 
     
     
       19. The optical reader of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more color frames of image data comprise a plurality of color frames of image data, and wherein the optical reader is configured to compare two or more of the plurality of color frames of image data to detect differences in the parcel between the two or more of the plurality of color frames of image data. 
     
     
       20. A system comprising:
 a plurality of optical readers, wherein each optical reader comprises: 
 a first image sensor array, the first image sensor array being a pixel array having a plurality of first pixels; 
 a first imaging lens associated with the first image sensor array; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the optical reader to:
 capture one or more color frames of image data; 
 capture one or more decode frames of image data; 
 decode one or more decodable indicia in the one or more decode frames of image data; and 
 associate the one or more color frames of image data with the one or more decode frames of image data by:
 identifying a parcel identifier; 
 storing the parcel identifier in association with the one or more color frames of image data as a single transaction data set; and 
 transmitting the single transaction data set to a remote server; and 
 
 
 at least one remote server, including the remote server, connected with the plurality of optical readers via one or more at least one of wired or wireless networks, wherein the at least one remote server comprises non-transitory computer readable memory storing a plurality of stored color frames of image data received from the plurality of optical readers, wherein the plurality of stored color frames of image data are stored in association with a plurality of parcel identifiers. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of stored color frames of image data are stored in a database that is indexed by the plurality of parcel identifiers. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , wherein identifying the parcel identifier comprises decoding the parcel identifier from the one or more decodable indicia. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 20 , further configured to: compare two or more of stored first color frames of image data of the plurality of stored color frames of image data to detect differences in a parcel between the two or more stored first color frames of image data;
 identify at least one of a location or an optical reader from the plurality of optical readers associated with each of the two or more stored first color frames of image data; and determine which of the at least one of the location or the optical reader is associated with damage to the parcel. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying at least one of a location or an optical reader from the plurality of optical readers associated with each of the two or more stored first color frames of image data, and determining which of the at least one of the location or the optical reader is associated with damage to the parcel. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 20 , further configured to display a web page comprising one or more of the plurality of stored color frames of image data to a user. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions further configure the optical reader to:
 in response to decoding the one or more decodable indicia in the one or more decode frames of image data and identifying the parcel identifier, automatically transferring the parcel identifier to the at least one remote server.